AMERICAN WARSHIPS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21374, 19 March 1941, Page 6

AMERICAN WARSHIPS

| AT SYDNEY TOMORROW MARCH THROUGH CITY ROUND OF ENTERTAINMENT! i Press Assn— Elec. Tel. Copyright) ! (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) j CANBERRA, March 19 | The acting-Prime Minister, ! Mr Fadden, announced tonight that seven American warships ■ will arrive in Sydney on Thursday morning, and after the welcoming ceremonies a large body of naval ratings will march through the city. The units comprise the cruisers Portland, of 9800 tons, and Chicago, of 9300 tons; the destroyers Clark, Reid, Conyg- | ham, Cassing and Downes. The squadron is under the com- j mand of Rear-Admiral J. H. New- > ton. The men will be treated to a > round of entertainments, including i a dinner at the City Town Hall and i gubernatorial festivities in keeping with the occasion. ACTIVITIES OF AIRMEN ATTACKS IN KEREN AREA MUCH DAMAGE AT TRIPOLI i SHIPPING AND QUAYS HIT comclai Wireless) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, March 18 A Royal Air f orce communique stated: There was continued activity by Royal Air Force fighters and bombers in the Keren area yesterday. Troops and gun positions were dive-bombed and machine-gunned. During these operations an Italian CR 42 was intercepted oy our air- : craft and shot down. In Abyssinia, further south, enemy troops avid motor transport vehicles in the Harar and Jijiga area were attacked by machine-gun fire of the South African Air Force. Enemy aircraft which were mach-ine-gunned at Jijiga on March 15 | were observed to be burnt out. Four more Italian aircraft are now known to have been definitely destroyed in the engagements of the South African Air f orce near Daggabur and Diredawa from March 13 to 15. A heavy attack was made on Tri- ; poli harbour by Royal Air Force bomvers. A direct hit was observed on the mole and other bombs straddled shipping and quays. Large fires were started on the south side of the harbour in hangars and among military stores, while explosions were seen at a railway de- ; pot and near the wireless station. In connection with the operations at Keren it is reported that the British forces captured two heights overlooking Keren. DUTCH EAST INDIES LUXURY HOSPITAL SHIP j WOMEN FOR WAR DUTIES i United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) BATAVIA, March 18 The Dutch authorities have decided to retain the luxury li'ner Oranje, with its air-conditioned cabins for seriously-injured troops. An operating theatre with X-ray I apparatus will be built on the promenade deck, which is vibrationless. j There will be special quarters for | mental avid contageous cases. Between 50 and 60 Dutch nurses who speak English will be selected. j Over 12,000 Batavian women have j been recruited for war duties, to re- 1 place men in civil occupations. The recruiting of women is now in full swing through the East Indies. FOOD FOR FRANCE CARGOES FROM AMERICA BRITISH PERMISSION AWAITED tUnited Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 19, 3.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, March 18 PA. Henry Haye, French Ambassador, after a conference with Mr Sumner Welles, said only the final consent of Britain remains to complete the plan for sending American food to unoccupied France. CASUALTY LISTS

DEATHS IN EGYPT TWO AIRMEN MISSING (By TclesraDti.— Prpss Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The following official casualty list of members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force is announced:— Private Ike Kingi, died of sickness. His wife is Mrs B. H. Kingi, of Foxton. Private le Pehi Parata. died of sickness. His next of kin is dis sister, Miss Charlotte Parata, of Waikanae. The following air casualties are also announced:— Sergeant Thomas Geoffrey Webb, R.N.Z.A.F., missing irom air operations. His fatner is Mr J. H. Webb, of Mount Albert, Auckland. Sergeant Webb was accepted lor training early in 1940, leaving New Zealand later in the year. He is aged 20 years. Sergeant Douglas William Gough, R.N.Z.A.F.. missing from air operations. His father is Mr R. W. Gough, of Palmerston Norln. Sergeant Gough is aged 20 years. After training with the civil reser\ e pilots, he underwent further training at Taieri on the outbreak of war, proceeding overseas in 1940.